(First Photo) DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian welcomes UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Country Representative Dr. Lionel Dabbadie (fourth from right), Assistant FAO Representative for Programs Tamara Palis-Duran (third from right), Social Policy and Program Coordinator Ruth Honculada-Georget (second from right), and Project Development and Coordination Support Pauline de Guzman during a courtesy visit at the DSWD Central Office on Friday, April 28. Joining the Secretary in welcoming FAO were: (from left) Albert Taule of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps); Evangeline S. Lim of the Resource Generation and Management Office (RGMO); Catherine Lagunday, Head of RGMO; and, Special Assistant to the Secretary on Resource Generation and Management Atty. Maria Paz B. Rafael.

Second Photo (Left) UNFAO Representative Dr. Lionel Dabbadie and Social Policy and Program Coordinator Ruth Honculada-Georget brief Secretary Rex Gatchalian on their programs on disaster preparedness and resiliency. 

Third Photo (Right) DSWD and UN-FAO reaffirm their strong and strategic partnership on disaster preparedness during a courtesy visit at the DSWD Central Office on Friday, April 28.

 

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian met with United Nations-Food and Agriculture Organization (UN-FAO) Country Representative Dr. Lionel Dabbadie, on Friday, April 28, reaffirming their strong and strategic partnership on disaster preparedness.

During the courtesy visit by Dr. Dabbadie, the UN official expressed FAO’s commitment to continue and strengthen the existing partnership with DSWD on the implementation of anticipatory action and shock responsive social protection to the disaster-prone areas in the country.

Dr. Dabbadie was accompanied in his courtesy visit by Assistant FAO Representative for Programs Tamara Palis-Duran and Social Policy and Program Coordinator Ruth Honculada-Georget.

In response, Secretary Gatchalian conveyed to Dr. Dabbadie DSWD’s full support to FAO, as disaster preparedness and provision of immediate assistance to the disaster-affected families are on top of the DSWD’s major thrusts and priorities.

The DSWD and FAO signed a Cooperation Agreement in 2020 establishing the Adaptive and Shock-Responsive Social Protection (ASRSP) in the Philippines that aims to provide a framework towards the adoption of the Philippine Roadmap on Shock Responsive Social Protection, protection of livelihoods, and other potential initiatives relevant to mainstreaming of ASRSP systems and resilience building in the rural sector.

The DSWD is confident that with the strengthened partnership with FAO, more poor families and vulnerable communities will have access to social protection programs that are responsive to their holistic needs. #